[1]Patna: Clashes took place between activists of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal(United) here on Tuesday, even as BJP-sponsored daylong Bihar shutdown call began.
The BJP has called for a daylong shutdown in Bihar to protest against what it calls the "betrayal" of the JD(U). The day is being observed by the BJP as "Vishwasghaat Diwas".
Senior BJP leader Sushil Modi, who was the deputy chief minister in the Nitish Kumar Government, said they would observe Betrayal Day on Tuesday by observing a state wide shutdown.
Demanding the resignation of Nitish Kumar, Modi said Kumar should seek a fresh mandate as JD (U) leader after the separation.
Putting an end to all the speculations, the Janata Dal (United) on Sunday finally announced that there would not be any alliance with the BJP in Bihar.
Addressing a press conference here, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav said that the developments in the last six months had made things difficult for them to work together with the BJP.
"We were in the NDA for 17 years and we had a national agenda that was formed with Atalji and Advaniji. We have tried to stick to the framework of the NDA but for the past 6-7 months situation has changed," he said.
"Any alliance runs by friendship and trust - we tried our best to run the alliance," he added
JD (U) has 118 MLAs in 243-member Bihar assembly and needs the support of only four more MLAs to have a majority.
There are 91 MLAS from BJP, 21 from RJD and one each from LJP and CPI in the state assembly.
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